Red Sox Notebook: Dustin Pedroia lands on the disabled list

Saturday

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) will be out of action for at least 10 days.

HOUSTON — A second Red Sox standout hit the disabled list in as many days on Saturday.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) will be out of action for at least 10 days retroactive to Wednesday. Pedroia was a late scratch prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Astros at Minute Maid Park after experiencing discomfort in his surgically-repaired left knee. He joins outfielder Mookie Betts (abdominal strain) among those stuck on the Boston bench for the immediate future.

“He wasn’t able to bounce back yesterday,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I think it’s a smart thing to do. I know he’s a little frustrated. It is what it is. It was major surgery.”

Pedroia underwent a cartilage restoration procedure in the offseason and endured seven months of rehab. His first game action came May 26 against the Braves, and he was just 1-for-11 while making three starts. Pedroia was spotted here doing some sprints in the outfield before the opener of the four-game set with Houston, but he ultimately reported his symptoms to Red Sox medical staff.

“I did all my activation stuff before the game and was still a little sore,” Pedroia said Thursday. “Then I went out and ran. I’ve got to be honest with them right now. They said this is a part of it.”

Pedroia played in five games at Triple-A Pawtucket before his return to the big leagues, a number Cora felt was sufficient. Pedroia struggled at the plate with the PawSox, going just 1-for-14, but his defense in the field was to be the prime benefit upon his return. Eduardo Nunez is a more natural fit on the left side of the infield and Brock Holt is also capable of playing elsewhere.

“This is not only for now, but for the long run,” Cora said. “Obviously we have our goals to be playing in October, and we want him to keep performing at a high level.”

Pedroia will return to Boston ahead of his teammates on Sunday and receive treatment on the scheduled Monday off day. He’s also likely to visit New York and Dr. Riley Williams III sometime next week. Williams performed Pedroia’s surgery in October 2017.

“If you ask him, he wasn’t going to fight this one,” Cora said. “It was tough that day. He came out and he wanted to see how he felt. But I know him. I have a pretty good idea of how he goes about his business. I had no doubt this is the right move.”

Déjà vu for Kelly

It was shades of Opening Day on Friday for Joe Kelly, a memory the Red Sox reliever would like to quickly forget.

Kelly was tagged for three earned runs and retired just one of the five men he faced in the 7-3 loss to Houston. He was hit hard by the meat of the Astros order, surrendering a solo homer to Carlos Correa and a two-run shot to Evan Gattis. Boston’s bullpen entered with a 1.70 earned-run average since May 19, best in the big leagues.

Kelly was a large part of that effort, shaking off the four earned runs he allowed in a 6-4 loss to the Rays on March 29. His next 24 appearances included just 10 hits and six walks over 25 2/3 innings, and Kelly conceded a single earned run May 10 in a 5-4 victory at the Yankees.

Former Tigers on the mound

Saturday’s pitching matchup was one between former teammates.

Boston’s David Price and Houston’s Justin Verlander were each in the Tigers rotation for portions of the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Price was traded to Detroit by Tampa Bay during the first year and moved to Toronto by the Tigers midway through the second year.

Price made 32 starts with Detroit, pitching to a 2.90 earned-run average and a 1.12 WHIP. Verlander spent his first 12 full seasons with the Tigers, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2006, the A.L. Cy Young Award in 2011 and the A.L. Most Valuable Player Award in the same year. He captured all five of his regular season starts after being traded to Houston late in 2017 and helped the Astros capture their first World Series crown.

— Bill Koch writes for the Providence Journal of GateHouse Media.

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